Oilers Win Opener
Dustin Penner scored his second goal of the game with 5.4 seconds left and Edmonton beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in the season opener Sunday night.
Penner, who also scored the Oilers’ second goal earlier in the third period, tipped Ethan Moreau’s shot past goalie Peter Budaj in the final seconds. Shawn Horcoff also scored for Edmonton.
Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk had goals for the Avalanche (0-2).
The Edonton Oilers struck first during a power play seven minutes in. Ales Hemsky made a long pass at the side of the net to Horcoff, who batted the puck in before Budaj could get across.
Colorado appeared to tie the game two minutes later when Sakic came in on a 2-on-1 and took a shot. Edmonton starter Matthieu Garon made the original save but the puck went in when Sakic crashed into the net. The goal was waved off following a video review.
Sakic made up for that with a goal that counted just past the midway point of the second period. Garon made a pair of big saves before Sakic put in a big rebound while the goalie was out of position.
Colorado had a couple of prime scoring opportunities, including one shot that dribbled behind Garon and stopped inches short of the line, but the game remained 1-1 going into the third.
Edmonton regained the lead six minutes into the third as Penner’s wraparound shot from behind the net somehow got under Budaj’s pads and in.
With 10 minutes to play, the Oilers were called for closing a hand on the puck in the crease – giving Colorado a penalty shot. Hejduk was picked for the attempt and he took full advantage, beating Garon stickside to make it 2-2. Hejduk is 3-for-3 on penalty shots.
Notes: Edmonton was the first team to finish out last season’s schedule and the last to begin this one, a lengthy wait of 192 days. … Edmonton hasn’t lost a home opener since Oct. 10, 1998. … Colorado won six of eight meetings with the Oilers last season. Tyler Arnason scored five of his 10 goals last season against Edmonton. … Avalanche D Adam Foote became the 40th active player to appear in 1,000 NHL games. Edmonton D Lubomir Visnovsky played in his 500th NHL game while making his Oilers debut following an offseason trade with Los Angeles.
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